Author Archive
Feb
08
Feb. 8 Devo
Posted by: | CommentsThe Danger of a Living a Divided Life
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37
I see so many Christians today who divide up their lives into tightly packed little compartments: the sacred and the secular. The sacred is what they do on Sunday, and the secular is up for grabs. It’s just whatever happens! So they have their sacred life at church, and they do their business with the world the rest of the time.
But the real Christian life—the Jesus life—is to do all things in word and in deed to the glory of God. There’s no difference between what you are on Sunday and what you are every other minute of the week!
That’s why this commandment in today’s passage is just so important. It’s Jesus’ reminder to you and me that when we truly love God, it will be with every fiber of our being. It’s not that we just give Him one day a week and live however we want the rest of the week. No, we seek to glorify Him with our entire lives. That’s real love!
Maybe you’ve found yourself at times acting like a different person depending on whether you’re in a “religious” or “secular” setting. But in reality, you should be the same person in both settings. So don’t let the day of the week dictate how devotd you are to following Christ. Honor Him every day with your entire being!
DON’T LET THE DAY OF THE WEEK DICTATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO CHRIST. INSTEAD, HONOR GOD WITH YOUR LIFE EVERY DAY! :angel:
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For more from PowerPoint Ministries and Dr. Jack Graham, please visit PowerPoint Ministries with Jack Graham & Christian Living Resources, Jesus Christ, Bible Study, Faith in God
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Feb
07
Feb 7 Devo
Posted by: | CommentsSeeing God’s work in your life
I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
Romans 6:19
When I consider the work that God does, I like to think about it in terms of Him being in the construction business. That’s because from the beginning of the Bible to the very end, God is always at work building something.
There’s His creative work in Genesis chapter 1, when He created the heavens and the earth. He then made man in His own image and created him after His own likeness. Then there was the building of the ark when Noah was led by God and given building plans for the formation of that ship that delivered them from of God’s judgment. And then later on there was the building of the tabernacle, and then the temple.
Then, when Jesus came to this earth, what was His profession? He was a carpenter! And He made things physically with His hands and, beyond that, said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
And you know something? God is building you, too. It’s called “sanctification” and He’s doing it in you every day as He makes you more and more like Him. So if you struggle with sin, don’t let it get you down. Just imagine a big orange sign over your head that says, “God at work”!
AS A CHRISTIAN, YOU SPEND YOUR ENTIRE LIFE AS GOD’S CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, BEING MADE MORE LIKE HIM. SO DON’T LET YOUR STRUGGLES GET YOU DOWN. YOU’RE A WORK IN PROGRESS! :angel:
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For more from PowerPoint Ministries and Dr. Jack Graham, please visit PowerPoint Ministries with Jack Graham & crosswalk.com
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Feb
06
Feb. 6 Devo
Posted by: | CommentsGenerosity
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.
Psalm 37:25-26
This world puts a lot of emphasis on how important it is to look out for number one. We seem to be born with a natural fear of not having enough - for ourselves. So we hoard whatever we can just in case our perceived disaster ever strikes. But this isn't the kind of life God intends for those who are a part of his family.
God wants us to live a generous life, full of both receiving and giving. But if we don't give freely and joyfully, we miss out on the supernatural blessings that come from a life of generosity.
Living a life of generosity requires trust and a big commitment. But we must trust and be committed to the right things, the things of God. And as we follow that trust with faith in God, he will always provide us with exactly what we need.
Don't let the fear of doing without rob you of trusting in God's provisions for what you need. Remember, God doesn't need us to give to others. It is us who needs to experience the act of giving so that we can live a truly blessed and abundant life.
Dear Lord, Help me to live an abundant and generous life, giving freely to those who have needs that I can meet. Help me overcome my fear of going without by trusting in your Word and the promises you have made to always provide for me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. :angel:
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Visit the Ed Young's website: Ed Young Television
& Christian Living Resources, Jesus Christ, Bible Study, Faith in God
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Feb
05
Sunday Feb 5 Devo
Posted by: | CommentsBe Worried. Be Very Worried!
In 1977 the "Times" front cover carried a very terrifying message: "How to Survive the Coming Ice Age." Fast forward to 2006 and one will find the same magazine's front cover speaking about Global Warming with the caption: "Be Worried. Be VERY Worried." In less than 30 years the earth apparently shifted from freezing cold to scorching hot. While you muse on this conundrum consider some very true applications to the church.
In the 1950's churches of all faiths were growing. Some were growing faster than others, nevertheless they were not stagnant. In this period of American history, one might describe faith and belonging to a church as a major factor in one's life. There was global warming for missionaries were sent abroad to educate men of the ways of God. Fast forward past the anti-establishment era of the 1960's to 1980 and one will discover that national surveys showed that churches were loosing membership faster than a Popsicle melting on city sidewalk. The bottom line - Faith was being replaced for achievement; love was being replaced with lust; church meeting were being replaced with sporting events.
Welcome to the spiritual ice age.
God expects his people to be on fire, to have purpose, to prioritize and to be people with principles that outshine the wickedness that covers this dark world, "...be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:15). Because of shrinking membership the church today is worried, very worried.
Our culture has committed itself to socialism - that is - the government (our society) is going to solve the problems of crime, poverty, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy. But when a society won't allow the Book to be read in public places that speaks to the root cause of these problems, when a society substitutes perfect moral values to culturally centered moral values, when a society (as a whole) embraces all kinds of gods and religion as being coequal and there is no such thing as 'truth' then be worried. Be VERY worried, for the God of the Bible has just been put on ice.
The God of the Bible is a consuming fire and so must be his people. Not a fire of vengeance but of love for the church which His Son gave his life's blood to bring into existence (Heb. 12:29; Acts 20:28). It appears that in less than 30 years his people when from hot to cold, from warm to chilly, from blazing up to flaming out. Are we on ice? His people must generate a heat wave across the land to defrost the hearts of those who, "know not God nor obey his commands" (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). But if the church is on ice, who will go? It is the duty of the church to educate sinners about God's way but if we have chosen to live like sinners what good is our salt? It won't even melt the ice and our culture falls prey to the ice age.
Then be worried. Be VERY worried!
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Wooddale Church of Christ Daily Devo's
Daily Devotional by Kirk White
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Feb
04
Feb 4 Devo
Posted by: | CommentsLife is a one-time Shot
James 4:14.. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
So often, we get bogged down in the day to day activities of life, we lose sight of not only its' brevity, but the fact life is a one-time shot. I hate to break the bad news to those who buy into the complete stupidity of reincarnation, but we were created in the image of God for this one and only journey called life. When it is over, we will have an eternal home, either with our creator, if we come to know His Son Jesus Christ by faith, or eternally separated from our Creator if we reject Christ.
The point I want to drive home today is that this is it. This is our life. This is not a dress rehearsal, there are no do-overs, we need to make the most of this time God has given us.
It is human nature not to think much about death, our own mortality. We tend to dwell on it more as we get older, since it becomes more of a reality. As we go through life, we see our grandparents die, our parents, other family members, friends, and those we know pass away. At those times, we are reminded that we too will one day die, though we try not to think about it very long. In addition to being reminded at times how brief life is, we often pause at different points to see where we are in life, look back to where we have been, and look ahead to where we want to go.
Again, as we get older, we become aware that this time on earth, this life, really does pass quickly. It is at these times of reflection when it becomes apparent how much of our life we squander and don't take advantage of. Remember this: today is a day like none other, and when it is gone, it is never coming back.
Take the time needed to reflect on your life today. Take the time to see where you are at, and where you want to go. Look at those things in your life each day that are positive, and those that are negative. The fact is, life is short. Only God knows when our time here is over. We have no control over that. What we DO have control over is how we use each day. I don't care where you live, what ethnic background you are, what your social or financial status is, the one thing all of us have in common is 24 hours. Nobody gets a second more or a second less. How we use that 24 hours becomes the key decisions we must make each day.
God has a perfect plan and purpose for your life. Allowing that plan and purpose to unfold each day is the challenge we all face. Life is a one time shot. We won't get another chance. Make the most of each and every day God gives you. It is your life, the only one you will get, so make the most of it. :angel:
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Wooddale Church of Christ Daily Devo's
Daily Devotional by Tom Smith
Feb
03
Feb 3 Devo
Posted by: | CommentsGod Listens
You can talk to God because God listens. Your voice matters in heaven. He takes you very seriously. When you enter his presence, the attendants turn to you to hear your voice. No need to fear that you will be ignored. Even if you stammer or stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no one, it impresses God—and he listens.
He listens to the painful plea of the elderly in the rest home.
He listens to the gruff confession of the death-row inmate.
When the alcoholic begs for mercy, when the spouse seeks guidance, when the businessman steps off the street into the chapel, God listens.
Intently. Carefully. The prayers are honored as precious jewels. Purif
ied and empowered, the words rise in a delightful fragrance to our Lord. “The smoke from the incense went up from the angel’s hand to God.” Incredible. Your words do not stop until they reach the very throne of God.
Then, the angel “filled the incense pan with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth” (Rev. 8:5). One call and Heaven’s fleet appears. Your prayer on earth activates God’s power in heaven, and “God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.”
You are the someone of God’s kingdom. You have access to God’s furnace. Your prayers move God to change the world. You may not understand the mystery of prayer. You don’t need to. But this much is clear: Actions in heaven begin when someone prays on earth. What an amazing thought!
When you speak, Jesus hears.
And when Jesus hears, thunder falls.
And when thunder falls, the world is changed.
All because someone prayed. :angel:
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From Lucado Inspirational Reader
Copyright (Thomas Nelson, 2011) Max Lucado
Listen to UpWords with Max Lucado at OnePlace.com & Crosswalk.com
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Feb
03
Prayer Request
Posted by: | CommentsI have a couple:
1) a close friend (and member here) is going through a rough time due to some "circumstances" beyond his control.
2) My son's got a chance to get on full-time where he's a part-time worker right now.
Lift those up in your prayer time if you would :angel:
1) a close friend (and member here) is going through a rough time due to some "circumstances" beyond his control.
2) My son's got a chance to get on full-time where he's a part-time worker right now.
Lift those up in your prayer time if you would :angel:
